Singapore Airlines unveils new A380 seats
has unveiled its new first class suites, business class, premium economy and economy class seat products for its Airbus A380 superjumbo aircraft, which is set to debut on its Singapore-Sydney route starting December 18 this year.
The airline is indeed halving the total number of seats in suites from 12 to just six, which have been relocated to the front of the plane on the upper deck. Sliding doors enclose each of the suites (which are configured in three rows of 1-1), and each suite has a separate leather swivel chair (with a 45-degree recline) as well as a 76-inch-long bed (with bedding by Lalique), which can be stowed.
The chair itself is operated using a touch panel in the left armrest, with swivel control and other functions, such as cabin crew assistance, adjusting the blinds and operating the 32-inch HD screen. Couples can join their beds and suites together to make a double bed, though there is a divide that can be raised during take-off, landing and taxiing if you’re not quite that close to your neighbour.
Fans of Singapore Airlines’ existing business class will be glad to know that the new seat retains its off-centre bed position in most of its seats. While bulkhead beds extend directly forwards, all others have an alcove to the side of the seat where travellers stretch their legs when lying down. There are pros and cons to this design – it favours those who sleep on their sides in a more foetal position rather than those who sleep on their back, as it effectively means you have to sleep at an angle across the flat seat.
These seats are, however, thinner than some of Singapore Airlines’other business class products (25-inches) and the overall pitch is 50-inches when seated upright. The overall length of the bed is 78-inches. Overall the design is quite modern, with sleek curves.
Laid out 2-4-2 and located at the front of the main deck, perhaps one of the biggest changes to the premium economy cabin as much as the seat itself is a dedicated bathroom exclusively for travellers in premium economy (currently on the A380, this class shares bathrooms with economy class).
Each seat has two USB ports and in-seat power, while the 13.3-inch screen will be complemented with the addition of noisecancelling headphones.
Recline on the seats is eight inches while pitch is 38-inches and width is 19.5-inches.
Layout for economy is still ten-across – 3-4-3 – and the cabin is located on the lower level behind the premium economy cabin.
These seats are thinner than their predecessors, with additional legroom (32-inches of pitch) and back support. Meanwhile the headrest can be adjusted in six ways with foldable wings. Seats are a comfortable 18.5-inches wide and recline is six inches.
Singapore Airlines currently has five new A380s on order that will sport the new seating. These will replace the carrier’s five oldest superjumbos, which it is returning to its lessor, keeping the total number of A380s in its fleet at 19.
Singapore Airlines currently flies the A380 to Auckland, Beijing, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, Melbourne, Mumbai, New Delhi, New York, Osaka, Paris, Shanghai, Sydney and Zurich.
A number of other firsts for the airline were unveiled along with the new products. These include it being the first airline to allow travellers to customise and save their in-seat lighting preferences (in suites) across different flights.